Retiring Gardner High educators contributed to Wildcat athletics

Mike Richard

Tuesday

Jun 12, 2007 at 12:01 AM

This week as another school year comes to an end at Gardner High School, it will also mark the end of the line for four longtime educators who will retire after a nearly combined total of 140 years of service to the school. Of the outgoing quartet — environmental science teacher Dave Beauregard, guidance counselor Neal Burgess, home economics teacher Sherry Rota and biology teacher Teena Weitze — three of the four have been involved on the Wildcat coaching scene. Rota, in her single days when she was known as Sherry Parks, was one of the first coaches of the girls’ tennis team when it made the scene in the early 1970s. Beauregard has been a longtime assistant coach of the cross-country and track teams for several decades. A former long distance runner in his own right, he brought his love and insight into the sport to help mentor many racers in the nuances of the sport. While he may be hanging up the chalk in the classroom as one of the most beloved teachers at the school, he will still stay on to assist coach Ken Pelletier next year in all three sports — cross-country and winter and spring track. Burgess was hired as an English teacher right out of Assumption College in 1972 and also took over the Wildcat basketball team that year. One of the all-time Greyhound greats on the hardwood, he succeeded Dennis Caron who left to continue his coaching career at Martha’s Vineyard. His impact on the program was felt almost immediately. In 1973-74, Burgess’ Wildcats advanced all the way to the District championship game. The Wildcats finished 15-5 for the regular season record behind a seasoned group of athletes which included Gary Oikemus, Ernie Johnson, Mark Melanson, Paul Harasimowicz, Alan Alaimo, Scott Walker, Ron Desbois and Jim Lafreniere. The Burgess squad also bolstered depth with Mark Wahl, Brian Heglin, George Moutsos, Bruce LeBlanc and Roger Johnson, not to mention manager Dave “Hawk” Fisher. In their playoff opener with Marlboro, the Wildcats opened up an 18-point lead only to see the Panthers fritter away that advantage in the closing minutes. However, co-captain Oikemus sank six consecutive pressure free throws in the final 70 seconds to give Gardner a seat-squirming 67-65 victory. Their reward for this nailbiting win was a chance to meet top-seeded Ayer, the Wachusett League champions carrying an 18-1 record, in the semifinals at WPI’s Harrington Gymnasium. There, the tandem of Oikemus and Melanson was the difference, the co-captains combining for 25 points in Gardner’s 49-41 victory. The Wildcats earned their trip to the finals for the first time in 19 years. Ironically, the team they would face there would be the same school Gardner defeated for the Worcester County title in 1955, St. Peter’s of Worcester. In that final game, played on March 9, 1974, the Guardians gained a measure of revenge from their defeat of almost 20 years past with a 65-50 victory. Later, his Wildcats in 1982-83 also qualified for a District berth before he ended his coaching career a year later. Burgess, who spent 29 years in the classroom as an English teacher, will retire with the other three on Wednesday after serving as a Gardner High guidance counselor for the past six years. The foursome will leave Gardner High School a much richer place for their many years of devotion and dedication to thousands of students who have crossed their paths. A Silver Warriors Memory… The Narragansett softball team’s District E, Division 3 championship on Sunday over Tahanto brings to mind another band of Warriors who advanced to the District title baseball game 25 years ago this week. What was all the more unique was that the common thread between both teams was softball coach Mickey Kirby, who was the starting centerfielder in 1982, Pete Gallant’s first year as head coach of the Warriors. After finishing 6-14 the previous year with only six returning players, few could have predicted much success for this team but ‘Gansett would have none of that. During the regular season the Warriors carved out a 15-5 record and in doing so knocked off the likes of Quabbin, Nashoba and a tough Murdock squad. Once they reached the Districts, ‘Gansett went on a playoff roll. First, the Warriors rode the strong arm of hurler Brian Chipman and timely hitting to pull off a 10-1 first-round victory over Douglas. Next, the Warriors nipped Millbury 2-1 to advance to their first ever District title game. With the score tied 1-1 in the ninth, Bernie Dennis led off with a triple and scored on Pete Duprey’s grounder for the winning run. Mike Travaglini pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, while Brian Chipman came on to clean up and help the Warriors advance to the Division 3 championship. On June 15, 1982, the Warriors battled Grafton back and forth until the last of the ninth. With one out and runners at second and third, Scott Novick dropped a base hit into centerfield to end the Warrior dream of a championship. Other members of that team included Steve Trinque, Eric Schlapak, Bob Beane, Danny Valliere, Dave Valliere, Brian Heath, Wil Montalbano, Aaron Pokki and Howard Cheney, with batboys Rich and Steve Bernard. While Gallant’s Warriors would eventually capture the District and State title in 1991, this squad — in his first year as head coach — certainly brought some warm feelings to the people of the Templeton and Phillipston 25 years ago this week. Teeing Up a Championship Memory… It was also 25 years ago this month that another team worth recalling, the Gardner High School golf team under coach Chuck LeBlanc, captured its second straight Wachusett League championship and boasted several exceptional individual standouts. At the medal play championships that year, senior Mark Manca took low medalist honors for the day with a 7-over 78. He along with teammates Jim Romanson and Brad LeBlanc competed in the area individual championships at the Oxford Country Club. Also comprising that team were Rich Hedstrom, Kevin Mack, John Connor and Brandon Bonk. Sports Flashback 70 Years Ago (June 13, 1937): Gardner High track coach Bill Footrick sets the javelin record at the Junior Metropolitan Track and Field championships at Castle Hill Park in New York with a throw of 212 feet-1 inch. 60 Years Ago (June 17, 1947): The final Gardner High baseball batting statistics are announced and Alec Norskey leads the Central Mass. champs with a .536 mark. 55 Years Ago (June 12, 1952): Playland pitcher Tom Wickman no-hits the Woodland Spa in City League softball action, 14-2. 40 Years Ago (June 13, 1967): Get out the calculators as the McKeough’s Pharmacy softball team routs Chair City Beef, 48-3, in a City League softball game… (June 16, 1967): Billy Casavant pitches a Little League no-hitter for the Eagles over Gem, 6-0. 30 Years Ago (June 15, 1977): Red Onion pitcher Doug White throws a City League softball no-hitter blanking Holy Spirit, 17-0. 20 Years Ago (June 13, 1987): The Gardner High baseball team loses in the District championship game to North Middlesex, 7-0. 15 Years Ago (June 13, 1992): Oakmont’s Bryan Brown captures the New England mile championship. 10 Years Ago (June 14, 1997): Littleton’s Melissa Tucker throws a no-hitter to beat the Narragansett softball team in the District finals, 1-0… The Oakmont softball team suffers a 1-0 District championship loss to Notre Dame Academy in eight innings… Gardner’s Jill Croft places third in the New England long jump at 17 feet-9 inches. (Send comments or suggestions regarding “The Sporting Goods” to Mike Richard at Rich0725@aol.com. or in writing c/o The Gardner News, 309 Central St., Gardner, MA 01440)

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